Two months ago, as Kitsap Transit and company made their push to raise taxes and revive passenger-only ferry service here, Executive Director Dick Hayes made some good points about his agency’s proposal.

He also made some points that didn’t get as much press at the time but now seem pretty relevant as a private partnership starts taking a look at providing the service to and from Kingston.

In a nutshell, he asked how a private group without state, federal support or local tax dollars could keep a foot ferry costs down. On this note, Hayes said Suquamish’s proposal to create service to and from the casino, and potentially to Poulsbo, was simply a pipe dream.

How, he reasoned, could private businesses foot the bill for passenger-only ferries and keep ticket prices somewhat affordable?

How indeed. If Kitsap Transit needed federal funding, state money and the truckloads of taxpayers’ dollars — the latter of which ultimately capsized its proposal — to make it all work, how will the creators of Aqua Express be able to do so without such support?

It will be interesting to see whether or not Hayes changes his tune on this one in the coming month and backs a plan, which he once said simply wouldn’t work. It is true that Hayes’ late-October comments were directed at the entire Kitsap County service but it is also true that the same financial reality applies whether a passenger-only boat is added in Kingston or Bremerton.

Hayes has until Jan. 5, 2004 to respond. If he gives Aqua Express his blessing, we’ll be interested in hearing how he expects the proposal to float.